Attoenets



(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet l..

H. RABE. ELECTRIC WINDING FOR TCESION PENDULUM CLOCKS.

No. 401,065. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

VT' llllllllln' ATTORNEYS.

(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2` H. RABE. ELECTRIC WINDING FOR TORSION PENDULUM CLOCKS.

v1\I0401,06"u. Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

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ATTORNEYS.

(Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3..

H. RABE. ELECTRIC WINDING FOR TORSION lPENDULUM CLOCKS.

Patented Apr. 9, 1889.

ATTORNEYS.

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(Model.) H BABE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ELECTRIC WINDINC FCR TCRSICN PENDULUM CLOCKS. No. 401,065. Patented Apr. 9, 188'9.

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NA PETERS. MLM rlw. Wm D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HEINRICH RAIE, OF IIANAU, GERMANY, ASSIGFOR TO THE HANAUER ELECTRISCHE IIREIT FABRIK STEINHEUER RAISE, OF SAME PLACE.

LECTRIC WINDING FOR TORSION-PENDULUM CLOCKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 'o. 401,065, dated pril 9, 1889. Application tiled August 3l, 1887. Serial No. 248,329. (Model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HEINRICH HABE, a subject of the Emperor ot' Germany, and a resident of IIanau, Germany, have invented a Iiew and useful Improvement in Electrical Clock-ll'inding Mechanism, ot which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention is an improved electrical mechanism or apparatus `tor winding clocks having torsion or rotary pendiiliinis. The said mechanism or apparatus is adapted for raising the weight or resetting a spring which drives the clock-work. )Vlien the actuatingweiglit has reached the limit et' its descent, a lever is thrown into contact with an arm secured to the pivoted armature, thus completing the electrical circuit, so that the magnetic coils are energized and the armature attracted and caused to swing', thus carrying the lever back to its eriginal or starting position and raising' the weight until the circuit is broken, when the armature returns to its normal position of rest, and the weight is lett f ree to begin its downward movement de noto.

In the accompanying' d rawiiigs (tour sheets) the iirst eleven figures illust-rate my preferred embodiment ot' the invention, and the remaining figures (displayed on Sheet-l) illustratea modiiication.

Figure l is a perspective view of my preferred form ot' the invention, in connection with certain portions of a clock. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the saine, showing the rack-lever in its starting position. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line f5 3 ot Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view showing' the starting-lever at the end of its movement. Fig. 5 is a vertical section on line 5 5 ot Fig. i. Fig. G is a vertical section on line G 6 ot' Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on line 7 7, Fig. G. Fig. S is a detailperspective view showing the connection of the escape-lever and pendulum. Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the rack-lever and the weight rigidly connected therewith. Figs. lO and ll are perspective views showing' the rack-lever and curved arm at the beginning` and end of their movement. Fig. l2, Sheet t, is a sectional view ot a modification of the form of apparatus illustrated iii the Fig. 13 is a side view of the same.

preceding iigures. Figs. 14

and l5 are detail views of the circuit maker and breaker.

The traine of the clock and other fixed parts are indicated by letters and the movable parts by numerals. As best shown in Figs. i and o', the traine consists, mainly, of a vertical front plate, A, a parallel back plate or standard, A', and transverse connectingbars A2. Behind the said front plate, A, and separated from it by a narrow space, is arranged a shorter parallel plate7 A3, the two being rigidly connected by short bars, as shown. There is also a base-plate, A4, upon which the two electro-magnets B B are supported vertically. The cores ci of these niagnets project above the coils, and a horizontal plate, l), yokes them rigidly together. The straight bar-armature l is arranged above and parallel to this plate and mounted on a vertical spindle which passes up through the latter, Figs. 6 and 7.

The torsiori-pendulum 2 is suspended by a rod, 3, from the top bar, A2, ot' the frame in the space between the supplemental front plate, A, and the magnets B, the base-plate AL (see Fig. f5) being provided with a circular opening, Fig. (i, to permit diie oscillation ol' the said rod I3. A clamp, t, (see especially Fig. (5,) haviiiga horizontal slotted arin,is afiixed to said rod 3 a short distance below its point et' suspension and serves as the means ot connection between the pendulum and the escapement-tliat is to say, the scape-lever 5 is pivoted vertically to the inner side of plate A3 just above the scape-wheel t3, and its upper end works in the slot of the aforesaid clamp l, thus imparting motion to the penduliiiii.

The device 7, Fig. i), which for convenience I term the rack-lever, is, in fact, a geared sector, (see Fig. 7,) having a right-angular arm extending from its apex. This lever is pivoted vertically between the upper .portions of the aforesaid plates A A on the saine axis, S, as the segmental weight 9, which operates the clock-work. One end ot' this axis passes through a circular opening in the scape-lever- 5 (see Fig. S) and has its bearing in plate A3, while the weight 9 is affixed to the other end, that projects through the 'frontplate, A. Said ICO weight 9 is keyed fast on the axis 8, so that it and the rack-lever 7 vibrate together, the eX- tent of movement being about one-sixth of a circle, as indicated by dotted lines, Figs. 3 and 5. The said weight actuates the clockwork through the medium of the said lever 7 and a pinion, 10, as I will now describe.

The pinion 10 is mounted free on a horizontal shaft, 11, which actuates t-he clockhands (notshown) through the ordinary gearing 12, Figs. 1 and 6, to which latter further reference is unnecessary.

For convenience of description l will hereinafter term the shaft l1 the dial-shaft.

The pinion10 has a ratchet-connection with a spur-gear, 13, Fig. 6, which meshes with a pinion, 14, fixed on a shaft, 15, arranged above and parallel to the shaft 11 and carrying the scapewvheel 6, before referred to. It will now be understood that when the Weight 9 falls from its highest position (best shown in Figs. 1 and 6) to its lowest position it carries the rack-lever 7 with it, and the latter consequently rotates the pinion 10, and thereby drives the train 12, that actuates the dial- Work; but through the gear 13, pinion 14, and scape-wheel 6 a vibratory movement is imparted to the scape-lever 5, by which latter (by its connection with the slotted clamppiece 4, attached to the pendulum-rod 3) the pendulum itself is vibrated, and thus per forms the usual regulative function of such device. Vhen the weight 9 has reached the lower limit of its gravitating movement, it must obviously be returned to its original elevated position in order to continue to perform its function. It is for this purpose that my electrical mechanism is employed. As before stated, the armature 1 is iiXed on a vertical rotary aXis, 15, Fig. 6, around which is coiled a spiral spring, 16, Figs. 6 and 7, whose function is to tend to hold the armature 1 in a certain normal diagonal position (shown in full lines in several figures) until its tension shall be overcome by magnetic attraction, as will be presently described. A curved or C-shaped arm, 17 having its free end vertical, is attached to the upper side of the armature 1 by means of a sc'reW passing through a slot, which permits horizontal adjustment of said arm 17, as required. Normally the arm occupies the position shown in full linesthat is to say, its free end being curved around the pendulum-rod 3 and its upwardlybent end engaging or in readiness to engage the horizontal arm of the rack-lever 7.

The armature 1 is held against a rubber or other insulating-block, 18, Figs. 6 and 7, by the tension of the spring 16. The clockwork, the magnets B, and armature 1 are properly insulated from each other. One conducting-wire of a battery connects with the clock-work, while the other connects with the coils of magnets B. Normally the circuit is broken and no current traverses the coils save when the lever 7 and arm 17 are in contact. As best shown in Fig. 9, a rubber block or other insulating-piece is attached to the under side of the horizontal arm of the rack-lever 7. When the weight 9 has run down and thrown the rack-lever 7 into the position shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 11, the metallic portion of the angular arm of the lever comes into contact with the arm 17, thereby completing the circuit, so that a current instantly energizes the coils B B, thereby causing the poles a to attract the adjacent ends of the pivoted armature 1 and turn it on its pivot 15, so that it swings to the opposite diagonal position shown by dotted lines, Fig. 2. In making this movement the armature necessarily carries the curved arm 17 with it, and it in turn moves the rack-lever 7 back to its original or starting position, (shown in full lines, Figs. 2, 3, 6, and 10;) but at the instant such position is reached the vertical portion of arm 17 passes from contact with the metallic portion of lever 7 into contact with the insulating-piece, (see Fig. 10,) so that the electric circuit and current are broken. Then, the poles aabeing no longer magnetic, the spring 16 on shaft 15, Figs. 6 and 7, returns the armature 1 to its original position, Fig. 4, and the Weight 9 and lever 7 begin their arc movement anew. Thus the operation goes on continually, the circuit being alternately made and broken-fi. e., made when the weight 9 reaches its downward limit, Figs. 4 and 5, and broken when restored to its elevated place, Figs. 1, 2, and S-while the operation of the clock-work proceeds uninterruptedly.

In place of the weight 9, I may employ a coiled spring.

I will now describe the modification shown in Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15, Sheet 4.

The frame, the magnets, armature 1, curved arm 17, its pivot-shaft 15, spring 16, and devices for connecting with the pendulum-rod are constructed and arranged substantially the same as before described. On the dialshaft 11 are iiXed two rigidly connected drums, 19 20, on which cords 21 22 are wound in opposite directions. -One cord, 21, suspends a weight, 23,Which drives the clock-work, and the other, 22, connects with one arm of a lever, 7,'which has an opposite Weighted arm for holding it in position to keep the cord 22 taut. In other respects the lever 7 is constructed like the rack -lever 7, before described, and it is similarly pivoted by means of a shaft, 8.

A large escapement-wheel, 6, is mounted on the dial-shaft 11, andan escape-lever, 5, coacts with this wheel, and is connected with the pendulum-rod by means of a clamp, (notl shown,) as in the mechanism first described. This escape-wheel 6 is connected by ratchet and pawl with the drums 19 and 20, so that the latter carry the escape-Wheel with them when the weight 23 descends, but not when it is raised, and the weight-cord 22 is rewound on the drum.

On the outer end of the axis of the lever 7 IOO IOS

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are fixed two notched disks, 15, the smaller one, 2l, being made of conducting and the other or larger one, 25, of a nonconducting material. The notch in disk 2l is the smaller. A spring-rod, 26, having its lower end bent out-ward and bearin g normally on the larger disk, is Secured to the frameplate A and connected by a wire, Q7,with one elementof a battery, while the other conductor, 2S, is connected with the magnet-coils 3. As the weight 23 descends, the drums and escape-wheel 6 rotate together, as indicated by arrows, Fig. l, the cord being wound on the drum as the other, 2l, unwinds, and the lever 6 is tilted or thrown over into contact with the curved arm l?, thus completing the circuit, so that the armature l swings into alignment with the poles d a and carries thelevcr 1 back to its original or starting position, (shown in Fig. 1,) thus rotating the drums lf) 20 backward and winding up the weight-cord 2l. The disks 2l. 25 rotate with the axis 8 of lever 7,and the circuit is completed by the bent arm of the spring-rod 2G passing` into the notches of said disks, as shown in Fig. l5, whereby said rod comes in contact with the smaller or conducting disk 2l. vWhen the lever 7 is thrown back by the armature-arm 17, as above stated, the bent end of the springrod 26 passes out of the notches of the disks and bears again on the periphery of vthe larger or non-conductin one, 25, as shown in Fig. l-l, and thus the circuit is broken.

lVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In an electrical clock-winding apparatus, t-he combination, with the dial-work shaft, of electro-magnets forming part of an electric circuit, a pivoted swinging springretracted armature, an arm attached to and moving with the latter, a pivoted lever connected with the aforesaid shaft, and one part of which has a non-conducting portion and projects into the path traversed by the armature-arm, a weight connected with the pivoted lever, and conductors connecting the winding' mechanism and magnetic coils with a battery, substantially as shown and described, whereby when the weight shall have run down the projecting portion of the lever comes in contact with 2l 25, Figs. lland the armature-arm, thus completing' the elecl trical circuit, so that the armature turns and carries the lever back to its starting position, and also raises the weight, as specified.

2. In an electrical clock-winding apparatus,

the combination, substantially as shown and g described, with a swinging arm forming part of an electro-magnetic circuit, of a pivoted vibrating lever having a conducting and nonl conducting portion which engages the aforesaid arm and alternately makes and breaks the circuit at the limits of movement of said lever, a weight, and a clock-work mechanism, with both of which said lever is connected, whereby the said weight is raised when the lever is returned to its starting position, as specified.

El. In an electrical clock-winding apparatus, the combination, with the electro magnet-s forming part of an electrical circuit, a springretracted armature pivoted between their poles and having an arm attached, the segmental rack-lever and a weight, both fixed on the same rotatable axis, and said lever having' a laterally-projecting portion, to which anonconducting piece is secured, the dial-work shaft, and a pinion mounted loose on the same and meshing with the aforesaid lever, escape mechanism, the pendulum, and a piece connecting said escape mechanism with the pendulum -rod, substantially as shown and described, whereby the pendulum is vibrated until the weight has descended, when an elec-- tric circuit is formed by contact of the racklever and armature arm, thus causing the armature to swing and carry the lever and weight back to their starting-place and break the circuit, so that the armature resumes its normal position and the weight begins to fall again, as specified.

l. In an electrical clock-winding apparatus, the combination, with the two electroinagnets arranged vertically parallel and forming part of an electric circuit, of a bzw-armature fixed horizontally on a vertical shaft between their poles, a retracting-spring coiled about the said shaft and serving to hold the armature normally out of alignment with the magnetic poles, the vertically-swingin g segmental rack-lever, and a weight fixed on the same horizontal axis, the said lever having a lateral portion provided with a non-conducting piece, an escape mechanism, a pendulum, dial-shaft, means for connecting' the shaft and pendulum with the lever, and a curved arm attached to the armature and extending normally around the pendulum-rod, so that its free end is in position to engage the lateral portion of the rack-lever when thrown over by the weight reachin g the limit of its downward movemen t, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HEINRICH RARE. lVitnesses:

FRANZ HAssLAcHER, Josnrn PATRICK.

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